Tribunal clears Chaudhry Nisar to contest polls

RAWALPINDI: An Islamabad High Court appellate tribunal on Friday rejected objections raised on nomination papers filed by disgruntled PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. 

The tribunal dismissed an appeal challenging the returning officer’s verdict of accepting his nomination papers.

Petitioner Shahid Orakzai filed an election petition, contending that Nisar is involved in a case pertaining to an attack on the Supreme Court. He, therefore, is ineligible to run in the upcoming general elections, he added.

The former interior minister has announced to contest the polls independently this time around after the PML-N leadership showed reluctance to award him election ticket.

Former premier and PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif is reported to have opposed the award of ticket to Nisar after the latter not only refused to appear for an interview before a party’s parliamentary board, but also criticised the process of awarding tickets.

He has filed nominations papers for NA-59 Rawalpindi, NA-63 Taxila and Punjab Assembly’s PP-10 and PP-12, which were accepted by the respective RO after scrutiny.